View Full Version : Visiting DC
tokenuser
09-15-2008, 04:22 PM
Wife has a conference in DC next month. I am flying in Friday lunchtime, and we are going to to the Air&Space Museum on Sat, something else on Sun (we fly out early evening.
Its been a while since I was a tourist in DC (95? 96?). Anyone got suggestions for a Friday afternoon that is easy to get around to on the trains (I am staying right by the Pentagon City metro stop)?
Thinking of visiting the capitol building. Maybe the Spy Museum (something my wife wouldn't be so interested in).
Apart from the Smithsonians ... are there any suggestions for more unexpected?
guytheninja
09-15-2008, 05:14 PM
If you like to study history, you may be interested in the holocaust memorial museum.
http://www.ushmm.org/visit/groups/
bigshotprof
09-15-2008, 05:17 PM
If you find anything great, let me know. I am going there in June.
the national gallery is a significant art museum
and there is the national cathedral which was planned / begun in 1792
tokenuser
09-15-2008, 07:23 PM
the national gallery is a significant art museum
and there is the national cathedral which was planned / begun in 1792We might hit the national gallery on Sunday. We saw the El Greco to Velazquez (http://www.nasher.duke.edu/elgreco/) exhibit at the Nasher Musuem recently, and it was great. So - while it might not be to everyone's taste, we do enjoy art galleries. We also enjoy zoos :) so it might be a toss up between the national zoo and the national gallery (weather permitting).
I am a jaded traveller - and after seeing churches in Europe (esp St Peter's - Vatican, St Paul's - Rome, Assisi Chapel, Notre Dame - Paris, and the Sagrada Família in Barcelona) ... churches need to be especially special to hold my attention these day. What is it that makes the national cathedral stand out? Is there a compelling aspect of architectue or artistry I should consider?
We might hit the national gallery on Sunday. We saw the El Greco to Velazquez (http://www.nasher.duke.edu/elgreco/) exhibit at the Nasher Musuem recently, and it was great. So - while it might not be to everyone's taste, we do enjoy art galleries. We also enjoy zoos :) so it might be a toss up between the national zoo and the national gallery (weather permitting).
I am a jaded traveller - and after seeing churches in Europe (esp St Peter's - Vatican, St Paul's - Rome, Assisi Chapel, Notre Dame - Paris, and the Sagrada Família in Barcelona) ... churches need to be especially special to hold my attention these day. What is it that makes the national cathedral stand out? Is there a compelling aspect of architectue or artistry I should consider?
it is very beautiful with landscaping by olmstead the central park guy
it is made of materials from the usa so it looks different than european gothic cathedrals
and there is good choir music on sunday
The 11:15 Eucharist service normally has the Cathedral Choir of Men and Boys or Men and Girls.
phatlip12
09-15-2008, 07:44 PM
I've never visited it but I've seen it driving on 95. The mormon temple in DC looks pretty crazy. It always reminded me of something from out of the wizard of oz.
http://content.answers.com/main/content/wp/en/thumb/b/b9/400px-DCTemple.jpg
ericjosepi
09-16-2008, 01:08 AM
... It always reminded me of something from out of the wizard of oz.
And if you look behind the pedestal on the pulpit, you'll see the minister has no pants!
masherscf
09-16-2008, 01:14 AM
I've never visited it but I've seen it driving on 95. The mormon temple in DC looks pretty crazy. It always reminded me of something from out of the wizard of oz.
http://content.answers.com/main/content/wp/en/thumb/b/b9/400px-DCTemple.jpg
Dude, I was driving down there in about 1988 (yes, I was old enough to drive in 1988...F** off, I was old enough to drink as well...but not both at the same time) and someone had spray painted "Surrender Dorothy." on an overpass just within sight of the temple. It was the best graffiti ever.
T/U you should remember to visit the Air and Space museum Annex if you have the time. Also, visit the national Zoo and see the Pandas! I've got pictures!
tokenuser
09-16-2008, 02:19 AM
T/U you should remember to visit the Air and Space museum Annex if you have the time. Also, visit the national Zoo and see the Pandas! I've got pictures!Air and Space is Saturday. We went to the old "temporary" space back in the mid 90s ... so really looking forward to the new one.
I think sunday will proably be Zoo day (weather permitting), and I'll do the spy museum on Friday afternoon.
Anyone know of anything in the Pentagon City area? How close can a foreign national who talks funny get to the pentagon? white house? capitol building?
straylightrise
09-16-2008, 02:24 AM
Dude the spy museum is the BEST museum in that city. Mostly everything on the mall is open on the weekends and tours are on a regular basis. The capitol likely won't be in session on the weekend but you can still take tours.
just get one of those big tourist hats and cameras and you're golden.
I've actually never gone into the Pentagon on any tours come to think of it.